HEKS/EPER is making a difference in the «Public services» in Serbia

The wars in Bosnia and Kosovo left Serbia internationally isolated and in economic ruin. The social system had collapsed and poverty and unemployment were rife. Even today some ten per cent of the population still live below the poverty line, and one-third barely above it; 20 per cent are unemployed. Minorities are very severely affected by unemployment and lack of access to social services. On the one hand, HEKS/EPER therefore supports the social and economic inclusion of the roughly half million Roma through improved housing and access to education, healthcare, work and incomes. On the other, HEKS/EPER supports the development of a home care service for sick and older people in rural communities.

Facts

Improved sanitary facilities were provided for 1700 people in five refugee camps.

Education, healthcare, social welfare and infrastructure such as electricity, water, waste disposal or roadways are among the services that a State generally provides for its citizens – affordably and of sufficiently good quality. Regrettably, this is hardly the case in the countries where HEKS/EPER operates. Minorities, older people or people with disabilities as well as communities in remote areas face particular difficulty. HEKS/EPER supports disadvantaged people in accessing public services, and promotes dialogue between the population and the authorities.

Eastern Europe Regional Programme

Promoting inclusion for the Roma

Taking a holistic programme approach, HEKS/EPER fosters the social inclusion of the Roma population in Hungary, Kosovo, Romania and Serbia.